EXPERT ANSWER
Dec 03, 2019 - 10:56 AM
Finding out if a particular field is right for you can be a process, but one of the best places to start is with informational interviews. An informational interview is an interview where you discuss a career field with someone who is in that field..
Use your LinkedIn network or other social networks to try to locate professionals in the field(s) you are possibly interested in. Reach out to the professionals to see if they would be willing to speak to you about their field. Ask if they would be willing to meet for coffee to discuss. During an informational interview, you should keep the information about yourself to a minimum. Bring a list of questions about the field, ask your questions, and jot down the responses.
I've found that having informational interviews with people from many different fields can help you to quickly narrow down your choices. You may find that certain types of jobs are more desk oriented than others. You may find that certain jobs pay on a commission. Or, perhaps some jobs are more creative than others. Very often, talking to people who do these jobs can help you to quickly gather much more information than just researching them online.
Check out additional resources from LiveCareer on the subject of informational interviews:
Use your LinkedIn network or other social networks to try to locate professionals in the field(s) you are possibly interested in. Reach out to the professionals to see if they would be willing to speak to you about their field. Ask if they would be willing to meet for coffee to discuss. During an informational interview, you should keep the information about yourself to a minimum. Bring a list of questions about the field, ask your questions, and jot down the responses.
I've found that having informational interviews with people from many different fields can help you to quickly narrow down your choices. You may find that certain types of jobs are more desk oriented than others. You may find that certain jobs pay on a commission. Or, perhaps some jobs are more creative than others. Very often, talking to people who do these jobs can help you to quickly gather much more information than just researching them online.
Check out additional resources from LiveCareer on the subject of informational interviews:
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